FBI Launches Free App to Track Missing Children

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has launched an app--free and available from iTunes--designed to help parents keep their children safe, and to track them in case they suddenly go missing. It is the first mobile application launched by the Bureau. The app is currently compatible only with iPhones, the FBI's website said, though plans are in the works to launch versions that will work on other mobile devices in the near future.

The Child ID App invites parents to store a recent photo of their child plus important information like the child's height and weight, that can be used to help authorities look for the child if they are missing. The FBI said in a press release:

You can show the pictures and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a special tab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks.

The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing.